Many return exhibitors at Art on the Half Shell
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| From left are Dee Carter, Suzanne Chewning, Sharon Zarambo, Linda Brent and Helen Chandler. Zarambo is holding her piece of art that won the Commemorative Prize in the 2009 Art on the Half Shell festival. (Photo by A.B. Gravatt) |
The street layout for exhibiting artists is firmly in place for the 10th annual Art on the Half Shell fine art festival on Rappahannock Avenue in Urbanna on Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Eighty percent of the artists are return exhibitors and request favorite spots on the street each year,” said Ginny Sawkins, artist liaison and board member of the Art on the Half Shell Festival Foundation. “Many of the show’s visitors and patrons have been to most or all the festivals to date and look for their favorite artists in specific locations. It works well now that we’ve established Rappahannock Avenue as our permanent location.”
One of the favorites of the festival is Sharon Zarambo (Bellozar Studio) of Etlan. “To me, Sharon’s work is simply phenomenal” said Sawkins. “Her style is not only completely original and utterly charming, but altogether creative, the end result being fine original art that is, incidentally, very affordable. It’s hard for me to pass her exhibit area without leaving with a Bellozar treasure. Members of the Middlesex Art Guild felt the same in 2009 by choosing a large piece by Zarambo as its Commemorative Prize for 2009.”
Artist media includes oil, watercolor, acrylic, fiber, metal, wood, clay, photography, linocuts, prints, lithographs and more. “Now that the economy is pulling itself out of hibernation, we anticipate this festival to be a much-looked-forward-to success for the artists and their patrons,” said Sawkins. “Artwork is good medicine after the kind of winter we all just experienced, and a little splurge on May 8 is just what the doctor ordered to celebrate the summer season and spruce things up at home, at the river house or, in a traditional rite of spring, a wedding present that’s fabulous.
“There will be demonstrating artists near the Arthur Lee Cemetery, great food prepared by Dan Gill of Something Different Country Store, and music by the Richmond band ‘The Taters,’ who have a loyal and robust following,” said Sawkins. “The town’s gearing up too, so the weekend of May 8 is definitely going to be a good one in Urbanna.
There’s plenty of parking and the festival is free. For information, email or go to the Art on the Half Shell Festival website.
